AIDS2010 COVERAGE
AIDS2010 for Dummies: An entertaining review.
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
If you require a clinical overview of AIDS2010 in Vienna, or a review of the scientific data presented, boy are you reading the wrong blog. Please check out those articles on The Body, AIDS Map, or the AIDS2010 organization itself.
I’m more of a Charles Kuralt type of correspondent. If he had been gay. And HIV positive. And umm, an addict in recovery. I think you get the idea. The goal of my video blogs from Vienna was to introduce you to the people and programs that energized the conference, and the individual stories of participants from far-flung regions of the world. Beyond the headlines, I wanted you to get a feeling for the sights, sounds, and pure energy of the event.
So here’s a day-by-day breakdown of my video blog episodes, including the stories and interviews included in each. Each synopsis begins with a link to that day’s video blog.
THE MSM PRE-CONFERENCE. Before the official conference, a separate event was held to focus on (M)en who have (S)ex with (M)en. Believe it or not, a very small percentage of 
AIDS2010 was devoted to MSM issues, making this day especially important. The video blog includes a chance interview with Michael Sidibe, director of UNAIDS (left) at the United Nations; a frank conversation about the role of HIV+ gay men in AIDS leadership, a chat with Jim Pickett from IRMA about research into rectal microbicides that might kill HIV without condoms (and a foretelling of the major news of AIDS2010); an interview with a young gay activist from Africa; and a talk with presenters from Gay Men’s Health Crisis about aging and HIV.
AIDS2010 DAY ONE: SEX, DRUGS, AND ANNIE LENNOX. The conference gets started with the roar of the registration area as your tour of the conference venue begins. Then 
it’s an interview with Edwin Bernard about the criminalization of HIV, a hot topic at the conference because of its connection to human rights. After a quick stop to sample the Global Village, there’s a free-wheeling conversation with Wendy Kneer of The Pleasure Project (right) about the female condom and its application for gay men. Next, we meet Methadone Man and friends, who explain the advantages of Methadone therapy for heroin addicts.
In Part Two of the video blog from the first day, I get so close to Annie Lennox in the press room that I could thump her on the head, which I don’t, because her profile as a 
global AIDS activist is growing by the minute. I do, however, get to question her during the main press conference about her “HIV POSITIVE” t-shirt. What a thrill. Then we’re dashing on a Vienna subway to chat with women from the Congo before witnessing a hearty AIDS protest at the conference about the lack of funding to the Global AIDS Fund. Finally, we visit the World AIDS Campaign booth in the Global Village.
AIDS2010 DAY TWO: THE WISDOM OF YOUTH. This was the day I felt my age, having to contend with the energy and passion of very young activists from around the world. I 
met with leaders from the Vienna YouthForce, who held a press conference and then chatted with me about their commitment to HIV in their home countries, including Afghanistan, Lebanon, Germany and Canada. What a group! Then I was charmed by the talents of No Strings, a project that teaches HIV prevention and awareness to children through puppetry, and conducted an interview with one of the project organizers and her trusty felt friend.
AIDS2010 DAY THREE: HUMAN RIGHTS NOW! It was about time to show you more of Vienna, so I welcome you from a gorgeous plaza in the middle of town, before we’re off to 
a reception with the organizers of AIDS2012 in Washington, DC, and a chat with National Minority AIDS Council Director Paul Kawata. Paul shares his highlights of the conference so far. Then one of the most moving events of the week: a human rights march and rally through the streets of Vienna, capped by a live performance by Annie Lennox.
AIDS2010 DAY FOUR: THE ART OF AIDS. Everywhere at AIDS2010, people were expressing themselves artistically. But what were they trying to say? After whining a bit about the exhaustion of the busy conference, we explore the many vendors in the Global 
Village who are featuring artwork for and by people living with HIV/AIDS, and interview the artists. Then another conference highlight: a performance of “Star Whores III,” (right) in which sex workers from around the world dance and spin and thrust their way closer (?) to human rights, if not personal dignity. After a look back at how artwork has been inspired by AIDS since the beginning of the pandemic, we visit a quilt project in the Global Village that is creating its own quilt from the work of conference attendees.
AIDS2010: A FINAL LOOK BACK. How could I not feel fortunate in my own life and struggle with HIV, after meeting a man, Frank from Malawi (left), who makes his living 
giving rides on his bicycle? Who could not be deeply moved by the commitment of women from the Congo I met one a subway? My final blog introduces you to some of the 900 people at AIDS2010 via scholarships, and the value of their voices being heard. Included: an interview with AIDS2010 Chair Julio Montaner.
I wish to thank the editorial team at TheBody.com for assigning me the daunting, exciting task of covering the event, armed with my video camera and a curiosity to meet the real people doing the real work of AIDS around the world. I will never forget this experience.
Tags: aids, culture, gay, hiv, physician, politics, research, Sexuality
Posted in AIDS2010 COVERAGE, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy | 2 Comments »
AIDS2010 in Vienna: A Final Look
Saturday, July 24th, 2010
I knew AIDS2010 in Vienna would be a great learning experience, but I suppose I didn’t expect to feel such profound gratitude for my life and my advantages. Life is such an arbitrary thing; I was born here, you were born there, she was born over there… and that simple geography equation will mean virtually everything when it comes to our human rights, our access to basic health care and services, and how long we will likely live on this planet.
In my final video blog from Vienna, I introduce you to some people who were attendees as a result of scholarship programs, and I talk to the Chair of AIDS2010 about the importance of every voice being included.
I would also like to express my thanks and great respect for the editorial team from TheBody.com with whom I worked this week. You would assume that great commitment goes into the production of a web site like this one, but it was awesome watching them in action.
Tags: aids, culture, gay, gratitude, hiv, physician, politics, research
Posted in A list of "My Fab Disease" Vids, AIDS2010 COVERAGE, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy | 1 Comment »
AIDS2010: The Art of AIDS
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Everywhere you look at AIDS 2010 (the international conference in Vienna I’m blogging), HIV is being expressed artistically. It’s as if the disease is so profound to people that simple words can’t communicate their feelings. AIDS has been a productive artistic muse over the years and is the subject of countless pieces of theater, literature, film, dance, and music.
In my video blog entry from Vienna, I’m taking a look back at art and AIDS, and a look around me, at some of the very beautiful — and very funny — “art” pieces that this disease has inspired. Could “Star Whores,” featuring the dancing sex workers of the East, be the next off-Broadway hit?
Tags: aids, culture, gay, hiv, physician, Recreation, research, Sexuality
Posted in A list of "My Fab Disease" Vids, AIDS2010 COVERAGE, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News | No Comments »
AIDS2010: Human Rights March with Annie Lennox
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
The AIDS2010 theme, “Rights Here, Right Now,” took center stage on day three, with speakers, seminars and events focused on how important human rights are the the AIDS equation.
Access to health care and treatment is a human right. Women deserve rights around the world, so they are not victims of sexual violence, infected with HIV, and then cast aside. And sexual minorities must be respected in order for them to be granted equal access to prevention and treatment services.
In this video blog update, I give you a better look of the city of Vienna, as we venture out from the conference center for a reception with AIDS leaders, and then one of the most exciting events of the conference — the human rights march and rally through the streets of Vienna, concluded with a performance by recording star and AIDS activist Annie Lennox.
Tags: aids, culture, gay, hiv, physician, politics, recovery, research, Sexuality
Posted in A list of "My Fab Disease" Vids, AIDS2010 COVERAGE, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy | No Comments »
AIDS2010 Day Two: The Wisdom of Youth
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
Today was a blast, because I spent it with my intellectual peers — puppets, show people and youth! In this video blog entry from AIDS2010 in Vienna you’ll meet some amazing young people from around the world who are making a difference in their communities. You’ll also be as charmed as I was by a program that teaches children in Africa about HIV/AIDS through puppetry.
If there is one thing I have learned, it is that these young people can speak for themselves. So I’ll let them. Thanks for watching!
Be sure to keep checking for my daily updates — tomorrow will be a report from the first human rights march ever held from the international AIDS conference, to be led by Annie Lennox.
Meanwhile, please be well.
Mark
Tags: aids, culture, gay, help others, hiv, physical, physician, politics, research, Sexuality
Posted in A list of "My Fab Disease" Vids, AIDS2010 COVERAGE, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy | 5 Comments »
AIDS 2010 Opening Day: Sex, Drugs, and Annie Lennox
Monday, July 19th, 2010
Wendy Knerr from The Pleasure Project really, really wants me to put a female condom inside my rectum. She keeps coaxing me, as if I’ll go running to the men’s room to try one on like a Ralph Lauren pullover. But her enthusiasm for the device is charming, and according to her it empowers gay men engaged in receptive intercourse to take control of safer sex without relying on their partner to use a condom.
Our free-wheeling conversation is in Part One of my video blog below, proceeded by an informative interview with Edwin Bernard, one of the organizers of a session on the criminalization of HIV, a very hot topic at the conference. Edwin does a marvelous job making the legal issues understandable, and he does it with a charming accent.
Meanwhile, Annie Lennox is in the media room and actually answers my questions about her famous “HIV POSITIVE” t-shirt, and colorful cartoon characters promoting recovery from heroin addiction roam the Global Village. These are all great reasons for bringing my video camera to this conference, and I can’t wait to share it all with you in this two-part video blog from the opening day of the event.
The theme of human rights seems, so far, to be embodied in the concept of de-criminalizing HIV, and I chat with an organizer of a seminar on the topic.
Please check back for my daily postings from the conference, and please be well!
Mark
Tags: aids, culture, gay, physician, recovery, research
Posted in A list of "My Fab Disease" Vids, AIDS2010 COVERAGE, Gay Life, Living with HIV/AIDS, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy | 1 Comment »
“Gay Day” at AIDS2010 in Vienna!
Sunday, July 18th, 2010
The AIDS2010 conference was still one day from making its grand arrival, so the MSM Pre-Conference took center stage, playing host to gay men and their advocates from around the globe. I’m here blogging for the best HIV resource of the web, TheBody.com, and here is my first video report to you!
In this, the first of daily video blogs from Vienna, I’m taking you along to meet leaders from the gay response to HIV/AIDS. You’ll hear from Michel Sidibe of the United Nations, saying that a world in which gay men face discrimination “is not a society I want to live in.” We’ll attend workshops together, on topics such as aging, or the role of HIV+ gay men in the AIDS struggle. And you’ll meet advocates like Jim Pickettt of Chicago, who has been working on the development of lubricants that kill the HIV virus without condoms.
It’s only been one day and I’m already tired and energized at once. Keep tuning in — there will be daily video postings, and the spectacle of the AIDS2010 Global Village — artists, exhibits, advocates — will be something you will not want to miss.
Meanwhile, please be well!
Mark
Tags: aids, culture, physician, politics, research, serosorting, Sexuality
Posted in A list of "My Fab Disease" Vids, AIDS2010 COVERAGE, Living with HIV/AIDS, Meth and Recovery, My Fabulous Disease, News, Prevention and Policy | 3 Comments »